Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1889

This postcard to Philip Zilcken, penned by Wally Moes, is a portal to understanding symbols of authority and connection in 1889. Observe the postal stamps: each bears a crown, a motif laden with centuries of meaning. From royal decrees to religious iconography, the crown symbolizes power, legitimacy, and divine sanction. Here, it marks the state's sanction over communication, ensuring safe passage. It is a fascinating echo of ancient Roman laurel wreaths, transformed into a symbol of secular authority. Consider the act of writing, a deeply human impulse to connect and communicate across distances. In our digital age, the tangible quality of this physical correspondence evokes a sense of nostalgia. The handwritten address becomes more than a set of directions. It is a gesture of intimacy in the vast, impersonal flow of time. The crown, the gesture, the handwriting, are all part of the eternal return, reappearing in different contexts, shapes, and guises, yet fundamentally unchanged, bearing witness to the enduring power of human expression.